Broncos Blown Out in Dismal Performance

On Sunday, University Area was alive with excitement as the Western Michigan University Broncos (3-6) took on the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames (2-6). This was an important game for the Broncos, especially for one, junior Taylor Manley, who in her freshman year attended UIC.

The Broncos opened the game on a good note when Manley put up five easy points, however, the tides began to change early on when the Flames opened up to a early lead. At the 12:00 minute mark in the first half UIC had a 6 point lead and they never looked back from there. On the game, the Flames had four players score in double digits.

“In our 1-6 start this year one of our struggles has been scoring,” said UIC head coach Lisa Ryckbosch. “In order to be productive on the offensive end you have to be effective on the defensive end and I feel that we did a good job of that today.”

At the end of the first half the score was 39-28 UIC.

In the second half, not a lot changed for the Broncos. UIC was able to get a lot of easy shots especially in the paint where they outscored the Broncos for the game 44-20. Nothing went well for the Broncos. In the second half alone they shot 6-33 from the field and were out rebounded 24-18. UIC on the other hand shot 11-22.

“If your shots aren’t falling and your not able to rebound, its going to lead to offensive breaks for your opponent,” said WMU head coach Tasha McDowell.

It was a frustrating and emotional loss for the Broncos on Sunday. There wasn’t much to cheer about. The final score was 69-47 UIC, 47 points being a season low for the Broncos. They shot 18-67 on the game, a 26.9 field goal percentage. It was the third straight game that sophomore Miame Giden was held to single digit points after scoring a career high 31 against Southern Illinois.

“I think the frustration comes from not playing to the ability that we know we can,” said senior Molly Dwyer. “Over this break I’m going to evaluate myself all around and try and be a better leader for this team.”

“I really don’t know where my team is at right now,” said McDowell. “I really don’t think we came out the way we should have. Obviously we are having some shooting issues. We are shooting the ball well in practice but in games, to shoot 26%, is dismal.”

Womens Basketball Weekly Preview

No. 21 MSU earns 74-51 win over lady Broncos

It was all hugs and handshakes between the Western Michigan University Broncos and the number 21 nationally ranked Michigan State University Spartans in the pregame warm ups, however, when tip off came, it was a defensive battle at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

Today marked the 19^th time these two programs have crossed paths, with MSU leading the series 10-8 and winning the last three. The two teams have met prior to today in Grand Rapids in the 1981 and 1982 seasons. WMU’s last win over MSU came in the 1982 season.

It was a defensive battle early on between the Broncos and Spartans. No points were scored until MSU’s Brittany Thomas went to the free throw line at the 17:37 mark. No field goals were made until MSU’s Lauren Aitch put one in for two at the 16:07 mark. WMU was 7-24 in the first half and MSU was 12-29. Also, MSU’s center, 6 foot 9 Alyssa Dehaan, who is currently 67 blocks away from taking the record for most blocks in NCAA history, had four blocks in the first half.

The Broncos came out and got into foul trouble in the first half giving MSU 15 chances from the line. Along with fouls, the Broncos committed 18 turnovers. It didn’t help the Broncos that freshman DeAirra Goss left the game early with an ankle injury.

One positive that came out of the first half for WMU was that senior Molly Dwyer, who has never missed a game, made a basket from three giving her over 500 points for her career.

At half time, the score was Michigan State 33, Western Michigan 23.

In the second half, Michigan State came out on a tear. They started on an 7-0 run to make the score 40-23, however, the run ended when WMU’s Miame Giden made two foul shots. MSU eventually took control of the half though. They were able to feed the ball around and get open looks in the paint and from beyond the arch. WMU was outscored in the paint 42 to 18.

“We held them under their average,” said WMU head coach Tasha McDowell. “We expected them to have a big night in the post, and [MSU] came here and took care of business.”

WMU tried to cut down MSU’s lead later in the second but they couldn’t. WMU’s Sara Vest led the team with 12 points, and she shot 7-8 from the free throw line. However, it was turnovers that lost the game for Western. They committed 30 turnovers.

“You can’t turn the ball over that many times and win games,” said McDowell.

The final score of the game was 74-51 Michigan State, however, WMU will have another chance to play the Spartans next year when MSU will travel to Kalamazoo to play the Broncos at University Arena.

Womens Basketball Weekly Preview

WMU Womens Basketball Team All in the Family With Giden Sisters

For some families, getting along with your sibling might be a little hard, but not for sophomore women's basketball players Miame and Robin Giden. They came to Western Michigan University in 2008 from Proviso East High School in Maywood Illinois looking for a chance to play together.

This dynamic duo has been playing basketball together since the seventh grade when they played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) ball.

“I really started playing in sixth grade, [Robin] in seventh,” said Miame. “We played on four different teams together before college and now five.”

Once the sisters began to play AAU together they started to receive letters from different colleges around the country. They were recruited by Western Kentucky University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, St. Louis College, and Western Michigan University.

“There were a lot of visits [to different schools] and we kept in contact with them,” said Miame. “We singed early in our junior year [of high school] because we liked Western Michigan and it was one of the only places Robin and I could be on the same team.”

The twins weren’t recruited by the current coach Tasha McDowell but by the former coach Ron Stewart.

“Even though we came in and there was a new coach, we saw how close knit the team was, and to me, that’s really important,” said Robin.

The two have been with each other their whole lives. They shared a room together when they lived at home, they roomed together in the dorms, and currently they have an apartment together.

“Living together is great,” said Robin. We take turns washing dishes and doing other stuff around the house. I love it.”

The two aren’t just sisters though. They are also teammates. They know each other’s game inside and out.

“Robin is a great post player,” Miame said. “She opens up a lot for me. I am able to drive to the basket. We are able to play off each other and look for each other on the floor. Its been this way for years.”

“From playing together I am able to see how much heart Miame has and how much love for the game,” said Robin. “It influences me.”

The sisters are truly a dynamic duo. They do everything together and love playing on the same team. They may be sisters first, but they are also teammates, and they have each other’s backs no matter what.

“I know I have someone there for me and I can go to her and talk to her about anything,” said Robin. “I can’t imagine doing anything without her.”

Womens Basketball Weekly Preview

Broncos Put up 114 In Rout of Aquinas College

Although Exhibition games don’t count toward the record, the Western Michigan University Broncos came out on the to court for their game against the Aquinas College Saints like it was a must win.

In the first half, senior Sara Vest started things off for the Broncos at the free throw line, however, after that the game belonged to sophomore Miame Giden. In the first half she scored 16 points by going 4-4 from three, 5-5 overall, and 2-2 from the line, a perfect first half percentage.

“It’s contagious,” said Bronco Head Coach Tasha McDowell. “Anytime you’ve got one of your returning scorers and leaders on the team hitting shots like that it breathes confidence.”

Over the off-season, Giden worked to improve her outside shot. All of last year she only made five three pointers and tonight she made four.

Senior Molly Dwyer also put up impressive numbers. She had a perfect field goal percentage as well going 3-3 with 8 points in the first half. At the end of the first half the Broncos were up 55-28.

The Broncos really came out on a tear in the second half. Newcomer to the team junior Taylor Manley made seven points in the first three minutes.

“I was a little nervous in the first half,” said Manley. “In the second half I got more comfortable and I just went from there.”

Also in the second half Giden continued to put up her impressive numbers. She would finish the night 8-9 from the field and 4-5 from three scoring 25 points. In fact, Giden didn’t miss a shot the whole game until there was 11:14 remaining in the second half. Junior Brenna Banktson would finish the night with 17 points and four rebounds making a great contribution to the teams effort. The Broncos would go on to win the game in stunning fashion 114-44.

“Anytime you can score 114 points, that’s a good night,” said Coach McDowell. “I was really pleased with my teams effort and intensity.”

There is a lot to look forward to this year for the Bronco Women. There next game will be an exhibition against Kalamazoo College this Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

“I’m very excited about this team,” said head coach Tasha McDowell. I’m really excited about where they are mentally, and we’re just getting started.”